AWRA was incorporated in July 2005 as a not-for-profit umbrella organisation organisation, to improve opportunities for females across the sports industry. It aims to support and work in collaboration with the state-based women's sport bodies from around Australia.
AWRA has been successful in receiving federal government project funding from the Office for Women and the Australian Sports Commission. Initially AWRA focussed on capacity building, to produce a membership brochure and other publications, to commence a website and publish its three year strategic plan.
In May 2006, ten members attended a World Conference on Women's Sport, in Japan, where AWRA presented a poster and hosted a meeting of Oceania delegates. Soon after AWRA submitted a submission and presented to the Senate Inquiry into Women's Sport and Recreation in Australia. In February 2007 AWRA conducted a national on-line survey of sporting organisations across Australia, looking at the issues that face girls and women in sport. Not surprising, one of the findings was that while women now make up almost half the number of active participants in organised sport they hold only 7% of leadership and governance positions.